Aquaculture Catch and Culture - Environment
Fisheries and Environment Research and Development in the Mekong Region Volume 23, No 1 ISSN 0859-290X April 2017
INSIDE
l Growing appetite for giant endangered fish species l Five fishes identified for Cambodia-Lao management plan l Vietnamese shrimp industry aims for $10 bln in exports l ‘Wonders of the Mekong’ project launched l New study finds 'no safety concern' with Vietnamese catfish l Valuing the ecosystem services of Lower Mekong wetlands
December 2015 Catch and Culture Volume 21, No. 3 1 Aquaculture
Catch and Culture - Environment is published three times a year by the office of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and distributed to over 650 subscribers around the world. The preparation of the newsletter is facilitated by the Environmental Management Division of the MRC. Free email subscriptions are available through the MRC website, www.mrcmekong.org. For information on the cost of hard-copy subscriptions, contact the MRC’s Documentation Centre at [email protected].
Contributions to Catch and Culture - Environment should be sent to [email protected] and copied to [email protected].
© Mekong River Commission 2017
Editorial Panel:
Truong Hong Tien, Director of Environmental Management Division
So Nam, Chief Environmental Management Officer
Phattareeya Suanrattanachai, Fisheries Management Specialist
Prayooth Yaowakhan, Ecosystem and Wetland Specialist
Nuon Vanna, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology Officer
Dao Thi Ngoc Hoang, Water Quality Officer
Editor: Peter Starr
Designer: Chhut Chheana
Consulting Editor: Michele McLellan
The opinions and interpretation expressed within are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Mekong River Commission.
Cover photo: Staff at the Hàng Dương Quán Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City with a critically endangered Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) weighing more than 200 kg on September 21, 2016. This individual was reportedly caught by Cambodian fishermen from an unidentified location in Cambodia and then transported to Long Xuyen in the border province of An Giang before being bought by the restaurant and sent to Ho Chi Minh City.
Photo: http://hangduongquan.vn/view-163511/Ca-Tra-Khung-Ve-Hang-Duong-Quan-337512/
2 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 AquacultureContents
Contents
4 Endangered species trade Growing appetite for giant endangered fish species among Vietnamese diners
10 Fisheries management Cambodia, Lao PDR identify five species for joint fisheries management plan
14 Fishpasses Can we have large dams and maintain most of the fishery?
18 Aquaculture (1) Vietnamese pangasius exports rise 9.6% to $1.71 bln in 2016
20 Aquaculture (2) Vietnamese shrimp industry urged to aim for export revenues of $10 bln by 2025
24 Aquaculture (3) Vietnam says Australia’s prawn import ban ‘causing serious damage’
25 Aquaculture (4) Can Tho to host international aquaculture show in October
26 Animal nutrition Germany’s Evonic Industries brings newly aquired Spanish probiotic to Asia
28 New aid project ‘Wonders of the Mekong’ project launched in Phnom Penh
32 Toxicology Dutch toxicological assessment finds ‘no safety concern’ with Vietnamese catfish
34 Socio-economics The MRC Socio-Economic Database
36 Wetlands How to value the ecosystem services of wetlands in the Lower Mekong Basin
42 New publications (1) World’s food security at risk: FAO
44 New publications (2) World Bank sees potential for $83 bln in additional benefits for fisheries
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 3 Endangered species trade
Growing appetite for giant endangered fishspecies among Vietnamese diners
By Truong Nguyen *
A restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City emerges as a magnet for affluent Vietnamese seeking to feast on critically endangered fishes native to the Mekong Basin
In early February this year, a critically endangered giant barb (Catlocarpio siamensis) was seen at a restaurant in Cau Giay District in Hanoi. Nguyễn Hồng Thái, the man identified as the restaurant owner, reportedly said that the 98 kg individual was caught from the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia February 2, 2017: An unidentified man with a giant barb (Catlocarpio and flown to the Vietnamese capital in anticipation siamensis) reportedly bought by a restaurant in Cau Giay District in of strong demand during the festive season – Hanoi February 2, the day the giant fish was spotted, Photo: Bao Dan Viet was the sixth day of the Lunar New Year this year with Vietnamese still enjoying the extended holiday break.
“The giant red fish was carried from Cambodia to Vietnam by plane,” Thái reportedly told Bao Dan Viet, a daily agricultural newspaper. “We bought the giant barb for more than VND 200 million ($9,000). I’ve so far sold about 30 kilos of its flesh at a retail price of almost VND 3 million ($135) per kilo.” October 26, 2016: An unidentified woman with a Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) in Buon Ma Thuot, capital of Dak Lak ‘The case of the giant barb was unusual Province in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam
in that it took place in Hanoi and Photo: Bao Tuoi Tre apparently involved air transport’ City, specifically Hàng Dương Quán Restaurant in Thái was further quoted as saying that he Tan Phong Ward in District 7 which specialises in had received many more orders from regular both marine and freshwater giant fish species. customers who wanted to eat the fish during the New Year period. The reddish color of the scales An exception to this came in the Central Highlands appears to have fueled demand since red is widely province of Dak Lak in October last year when perceived by Vietnamese as the colour of luck and a critically endangered Mekong giant catfish good fortune. (Pangasianodon gigas) was caught from the Srepok River, a tributary of the Mekong. The The case of the giant barb was unusual in that it fish was reportedly bought by an unidentified took place in Hanoi and apparently involved air restaurant in the provincial capital of Buon Ma transport. Until February, the growing appetite for Thuot for VND 450,000 ($20) per kg and sold at a critically endangered giant species had mostly retail price of VND 500,000 ($22) per kg, a modest been seen among lavish diners in Ho Chi Minh markup of only 10 percent.
4 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Endangered species trade
The restaurant owner, who was also not identified, said the establishment had previously bought several Mekong giant catfish weighing between 30 kg and 50 kg but that this was the first time to see such a large individual. The weight was given as 130 kg.
But it is Hàng Dương Quán Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City where the big business occurs – so much so that the name of the restaurant among upmarket diners has become virtually synonymous with the consumption of giant fish species, endangered or otherwise. On October 30 last year, for example, a 1.7 metre giant barb weighing 110 kg was observed at the restaurant (see photos at right and below) along with a 1.6 metre wallago (Wallago attu) weighing 60 kg (see back cover). Lý Nhi Nghĩa, a restaurant representative, was quoted as telling Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper that he bought the two fish from fishermen who had caught them from unidentified rivers in Cambodia.
“We bought both for VND 200 million ($9,000) Late October, 2016: A frozen giant barb (Catlocarpio siamensis) through an auction that we won,” Nghĩa reportedly weighing 110 kg is unloaded from a refrigerator truck after arriving at said. He was further quoted as saying that the Hàng Dương Quán Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City restaurant received many orders from wealthy Photo: http://hangduongquan.vn/view-164366/ca-ho-110-kg-ve-hang- people in other big cities like Hanoi, Hai Phong duong-quan-lh-0972660808/
Late October, 2016: The giant frozen fish is carried into the Hàng Dương Quán Restaurant on a palette
Photo: http://hangduongquan.vn/view-164366/ca-ho-110-kg-ve-hang-duong-quan-lh-0972660808/
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 5 Endangered species trade
and Danang who wanted to buy some of the fish, prohibits international trade in species such as the either for themselves or as gifts. Retail prices were giant catfish and giant barb unless the purpose of VND 7 to 8 million ($315 to $360) per kg for the the trade is not commercial). giant barb depending on the cut and about VND1 million ($45) for the wallago. In April last year, for example, the restaurant’s website offered portions of fish from a giant But the biggest recent prize for Hàng Dương barb weighing almost 120 kg, stating that it was Quán Restaurant was a month earlier when it caught from Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia. Back began selling a 1.3 metre Mekong giant catfish in October, 2015, the website advertised a 210 kg weighing more than 200 kg. The restaurant is said giant catfish – complete with hotlines for door-to- to have bought the fish from an unidentified trader door deliveries and maps to direct diners to the in Mekong Delta city of Long Xuyen, the capital restaurant and its two branches in District 4 and of An Giang province bordering Cambodia. The District 5 in Ho Chi Minh City. In the preceding trader reportedly acquired the giant catfish from months, the website took the same approach for fishermen in Cambodia who caught it from the marketing two giant barbs, a 70 kg individual and Mekong River. another weighing 120 kg. To expand its reach, the restaurant also advertises on other websites, The restaurant is upfront about publicising its notably a popular online news service known latest acquisitions, even if they contravene the as baomoi.com. It appears that the two critically Convention on International Trade in Endangered endangered species, the giant catfish and the Flaura and Fauna (CITES), to which Viet Nam giant barb, are being caught either in the Mekong acceded in 1994 (Appendix I of the convention Delta in Viet Nam or Cambodia.
Viet Nam approves project to combating illegal trade in endangered species
Viet Nam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc communications campaigns to influence has approved in principle a project designed to consumer behaviour and raise public awareness prevent and combat illegal trade in endangered of the consequences of wildlife hunting and species, Nhan Dan reported on March 11. The smuggling, refining laws and strengthening project aims to help the country stop illegal law enforcement to prevent wildlife product trade in wild animals and plants by identifying purchases, and fostering partnerships at both the gaps in policies and laws as well as proposing local and global levels, the report said. amendments and additions to legal instruments. Nhan Dan, the official organ of the Communist The sideline event was co-hosted by the Viet Nam Party of Viet Nam, said the project would be Mission along with the missions of Botswana, implemented nationwide from 2017 to 2021 Gabon, Germany, Thailand and the United with $10 million funded by the United States Kingdom as well as the Wildlife Conservation Agency for International Development (USAID) Society, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and and more than VND11.1 billion ($500,000) by a the Secretariat of the Convention on International Vietnamese Government counterpart fund. Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In a related development, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, head of the Permanent Viet Nam Further reading Mission to the United Nations, presented five http://en.nhandan.com.vn/scitech/environment/ proposals to eradicate wildlife trade during a item/5056802-government-approves-project-on- UN event in New York on the sidelines of a preventing-and-combating-illegal-trade-in-endangered- ceremony marking UN World Wildlife Day on species%C2%A0.html March 3, Vietnam News Agency reported. She suggested launching strategies to http://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-proposes-solutions-to- curb demand for wildlife products, holding eradicating-wildlife-trade/108180.vnp
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September 21, 2016: The Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) featured on the cover of this issue of Catch and Culture - Environment arrives at the Hàng Dương Quán Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City from Long Xuyen in the Mekong Delta
Photo: http://hangduongquan.vn/view-163511/Ca-Tra-Khung-Ve-Hang-Duong-Quan-337512/
September 21, 2016: After the giant catfish is placed on a palette, a worker (top left) prepares to cut the rope used to facilitate handling during transport
Photo: http://hangduongquan.vn/view-163511/Ca-Tra-Khung-Ve-Hang-Duong-Quan-337512/
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 7 Endangered species trade
Mekong Giant Catfish Status under IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Red List Category Species Pangasianodon gigas (trey reach in Khmer, cá tra dầu in Vietnamese) Family Shark catfishes (Pangasiidae) Length Up to three metres Category Critically endangered since 2003 (extremely high risk of extinction in wild) Last assessed 2011 (published 2013) Range Mekong Basin (reports of occurrences as far north as Yunnan Province in China unconfirmed) Occurrence Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Viet Nam Population Size unknown, current population trend decreasing Major threat Overfishing CITES Appendix I since 1975 (international Late October, 2016: Restaurant staff display the highly prized flesh Convention on International trade prohibited except when of a giant barb Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna purpose is not commercial) Photo: http://hangduongquan.vn/view-164366/ca-ho-110-kg-ve-hang- and Flora (Viet Nam party duong-quan-lh-0972660808/ to convention since 1994, Cambodia since 1997)
Source: Hogan, Z. 2013. Pangasianodon gigas. The IUCN Red List Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted a Hàng Dương Quán of Threatened Species 2013: e.T15944A5324699. http://dx.doi. org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T15944A5324699.en representative as saying that the restaurant made “hundreds” of air freight shipments during the Lunar New Year, which started on January Giant Barb 28 this year. The shipments included meticulous Status under IUCN Red List of Threatened Species instructions on how to prepare each fish along with Red List Category packets of sauces and spices. Wealthy customers Species Catlocarpio siamensis (trey kolreang in Hanoi and Danang usually order “dozens of in Khmer, cá hô in Vietnamese) kilograms” for parties. Family Carps (Cyprinidae) Length Up to three metres “They do not hesitate to spend additional sums Category Critically endangered (extremely high on air tickets and accommodation to have chefs risk of extinction in wild) prepare the delicacy on the spot,” the newspaper Last assessed 2011 (published 2013) said. Tuoi Tre added that several famous Range Maeklong, Mekong and Chao restaurants in the Mekong Delta were moving Phraya basins (wild populations no longer occur in Chao Phraya River) away from giant fishes as they could not meet the Occurrence Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Viet growing demand in Ho Chi Minh City, where many Nam people have been offering the delicacy as gifts to Population Sharp fall in abundance, current bosses, business partners and relatives. population trend decreasing Major threat Urbanisation, dams and pollution * Mr Nguyen is a journalist based in Ho Chi Minh City who has leading to habitat loss and covered environmental issues in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR degradation CITES Appendix I since 1975 (international Further reading: Convention on International trade prohibited except when Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna purpose is not commercial) http://danviet.vn/tin-tuc/ca-ho-do-khung-gan-100kg-xuat-hien- and Flora (Viet Nam party o-ha-noi-742589.html to convention since 1994, Cambodia since 1997) http://tuoitre.vn/tin/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/20161026/bat-ca-uc-khung-
Source: Hogan, Z. 2013. Pangasianodon gigas. The IUCN Red List nang-130kg-tren-song-serepok/1195315.html of Threatened Species 2013: e.T15944A5324699. http://dx.doi. org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T15944A5324699.en www.hangduongquan.vn
8 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Endangered species trade
Late October, 2016: Giant barb being prepared for retail sales at the Hàng Dương Quán Restaurant
Photo: http://hangduongquan.vn/view-164366/ca-ho-110-kg-ve-hang-duong-quan-lh-0972660808/
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 9 Fisheries management
Cambodia, Lao PDR identify five species for joint fisheries managementplan
Plan covers transboundary populations plan through consultation workshops at national in Mekong and Sekong rivers in northeast and local levels to access stakeholders’ views and Cambodian provinces of Stung Treng needs. and Kratie and southern Lao provinces of Champasak and Attapeu “The joint management plan brings the two countries together to better manage our fisheries Efforts to rebuild freshwater fish populations in the which will contribute to an increase of fish Mekong and Sekong river basins are underway populations,” said Chanthachith Amphaychith, with plans in place to establish a joint fisheries Deputy Director General of the Lao National management plan between Cambodia and Lao Mekong Committee. PDR. As a part of the efforts, fisheries specialists from the two member countries of the Mekong The five whitefish species, considered River Commission (MRC) met in Siem Reap for representative of the health of the freshwater two days from February 13 this year to discuss fisheries system in the Mekong and Sekong rivers steps for preparing the joint plan for managing five are Pangasius larnaudii, Pangasius conchophilus, fish species that migrate long distances to both Cirrhinus microlepis, Mekongina erythrospila, rivers, are valuable for food security, and remain and Helicophagus waandersi (a synonym for the more recently described species Helicophagus commercially important to both countries. leptorhynchus — see page 13). Fisheries experts from Cambodia and Lao PDR said during the At the joint management planning meeting, meeting that the current catch of these species is organized under the MRC’s Transboundary dominated by small and medium sized fish, with a Fisheries Management on the Mekong and notable reduction in large sized fish in the catch. Sekong Rivers Project, the two teams discussed The experts cited increasing fishing effort, illegal core elements of the management plan, including gear use, and habitat degradation as major threats management measures for each fish species. Both to these freshwater fish species. The project has countries will further develop and refine the draft
107 Pangasius larnaudii Pangasiidae ប䮚វែងអតិបរ掶: 130.0 ស.ម SL ຄວາມຍາວສູງສຸດ: 130.0 ຊມ SL ความยาวสูงสุด: 130.0 ซม. SL Chiều dài toàn thân: 130.0 cm SL
ត䮚ី寄
ປາປ�ງ, ປາຫູໝາດ, ປາຫູດຳ เทโพ หูหมาด ปึ่ง Common name: Spot pangasius Cá vồ đém Maximum length: 130.0 cm SL
Source: Photos of Common Fishes in the Lower Mekong Basin/MRC
Photos: ffish.asia/Nagao Natural Environment Foundation
10 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Fisheries management
Conservation status of the five species
The five species considered representative of could be expected to decline further if the the health of Mekong and Sekong freshwater mainstream dams on the Mekong were fisheries comprise three shark catfishes and developed, leading to disruption of migrations two cyprinid carps. At the time of their last within the Mekong. The scale of the impacts published assessments by the International from dams are difficult to estimate because Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) of the uncertainty over the number of dams in 2011, the population trends were decreasing and their time frame, and it is likely that the for all of the species except one of the shark species would qualify for a higher threat catfishes whose population was stable (see category if the dams were to be constructed.” table below). As for the near-threatened Mekongina The IUCN Red List of Threatened species erythrospila, known locally as pa sa-ee, its shows that the shark catfishes were either of population was decreasing due to dams and least concern or lacking in data at the time of overfishing. “Populations have been heavily the assessments. Only one of the five species impacted by the Yali Falls and the upper was classified as being threatened. This was Srepok dam in Viet Nam,” a separate IUCN the small scale mud carp (Cirrhinus microlepis) assessment said, noting that the Lower in the “vulnerable” category, which means Sesan II dam was poised to “completely block the species was considered to be facing a the migration of juveniles from the Srepok “high risk of extinction in the wild” when the and the Sesan rivers.” assessment was made. Three dams planned for the Sekong would According to the assessment, populations also impact this river's populations of the of the small scale mud carp in the Mekong species. “It is possible that the species may had declined by more than 30 percent and qualify for a threatened category,” said the possibly as much as 50 percent in recent assessment which was published in 2013. years as a result of fishing pressure. It noted that the Chao Phraya population in Thailand Further reading had already been extirpated over the previous Baird, I. 2013. Cirrhinus microlepis. The IUCN Red List 25 years as a result of pollution, dams and of Threatened Species 2013: e.T180904A7654985. overfishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS. T180904A7654985.en “It is likely that populations would recover if Baird, I. 2013. Mekongina erythrospila. The IUCN Red fisheries were reduced,” it said, pointing to a List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T181141A7661543. recovery in stocks during the Khmer Rouge http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS. period in Cambodia in the late 1970s when T181141A7661543.en fishing was not allowed. “However, populations
Species Red List Category Year Assessed Population Trend Pangasius larnaudii Least concern (LC) 2011 Decreasing Pangasius conchophilus Least concern (LC) 2011 Decreasing Cirrhinus microlepis Vulnerable (VU) 2011 Decreasing Mekongina erythrospila Near threatened (NT) 2011 Decreasing Helicophagus leptorhynchus Data deficient (DD) 2011 Stable
Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 11 Fisheries management
identified other issues that put pressure on fishery fresh fish resources in the Mekong and Sekong resources such as limited fisheries data and rivers,” said Chheng Phen, Acting Director information and limited capacity and resources of Cambodia’s Inland Fisheries Research for fisheries management, and challenges in and Development Institute of the Ministry of implementing the existing joint management Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. mechanism. In addition to the joint fisheries management “Through the joint management plan, we plan, the teams also moved towards identifying hope we can address these constraints and an appropriate joint coordination mechanism, rebuild populations of these fish species, which including establishment of a joint fisheries will support food security, provide increased management body to implement an action recreational fishing opportunities and bring back plan. The two countries will review existing
102 Pangasius conchophilus Pangasiidae ប䮚វែងអតិបរ掶: 120.0 ស.ម SL ຄວາມຍາວສູງສຸດ: 120.0 ຊມ SL ความยาวสูงสุด: 120.0 ซม. SL Chiều dài toàn thân: 120.0 cm SL
ត䮚ីកែ, ប䮚ាកែ
ປາເຜາະ, ປາແກ โมง ผอ สายยู สวายยู Common name: Sharp-nosed catfish Cá hú Maximum length: 120.0 cm SL
Source: Photos of Common Fishes in the Lower Mekong Basin/MRC
Photos: ffish.asia/Nagao Natural Environment Foundation
59 Cirrhinus microlepis Cyprinidae ប䮚វែងអតិបរ掶: 65.0 ស.ម SL ຄວາມຍາວສູງສຸດ: 65.0 ຊມ SL ความยาวสูงสุด: 65.0 ซม. SL Chiều dài toàn thân: 65.0 cm SL
ត䮚ីក䮚ឡង់, ត䮚ីព䮚ួល
ປາພອນ, ປາພອນວັງ, ປາພອນໝາກກອນ นวลจันทร์ พอน Common name: Small scale mud carp Cá duồng Maximum length: 65.0 cm SL
Source: Photos of Common Fishes in the Lower Mekong Basin/MRC
Photos: ffish.asia/Nagao Natural Environment Foundation
12 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Fisheries management
transboundary coordination mechanisms and projects funded by the World Bank under the MRC’s determine national data and information needs Integrated Water Resources Management Project. for the development of a joint mechanism paper. The teams planned to meet again in early May to Once completed in 2018, officials from Cambodia further develop these initiatives. and Lao PDR said that achievements made under the project would be integrated into national plans Cambodia and Lao PDR have been working of the two countries. They will also discuss how together through the Mekong-Sekong fisheries to implement the joint fisheries management plan project to improve fisheries management in four to ensure the sustainability of transboundary bordering provinces of the two countries – Stung fisheries into the future. Treng and Kratie of Cambodia and Champasak and Attapeu of Lao PDR. It is one of five transboundary Source: http://www.mrcmekong.org/news-and-events/events/ cambodia-lao-pdr-discuss-a-joint-fisheries-management-plan/
74 Mekongina erythrospila Cyprinidae ប䮚វែងអតិបរ掶: 45.0 ស.ម SL ຄວາມຍາວສູງສຸດ: 45.0 ຊມ SL ความยาวสูงสุด: 45.0 ซม. SL Chiều dài toàn thân: 45.0 cm SL
ត䮚ីប៉ាសេអ៊ី
ປາສະອີ สะอี หว่าแก้มแดง Common name: NA Cá đá sông Maximum length: 45.0 cm SL
Source: Photos of Common Fishes in the Lower Mekong Basin/MRC
Photos: ffish.asia/Nagao Natural Environment Foundation
1706 Helicophagus leptorhynchus Pangasiidae ប䮚វែងអតិបរ掶: 47.2 ស.ម SL ຄວາມຍາວສູງສຸດ: 47.2 ຊມ SL ความยาวสูงสุด: 47.2 ซม. SL Chiều dài toàn thân: 47.2 cm SL
ត䮚ីប䮚ាកណ䮏ុរ
ປາໜ້າໜູ, ປາໜູ, ປາຫອຍ สวายหนู หนู หอย Common name: Rat-faced pangasiid Cá xác Maximum length: 47.2 cm SL
Source: Photos of Common Fishes in the Lower Mekong Basin/MRC
Photos: ffish.asia/Nagao Natural Environment Foundation
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 13 Fishpasses
Can we have large dams and maintain most of the fishery?
Alternative approaches to designing a concession agreement (purchase price hydropower projects and sticking to agreement) with a power company. A detailed design principles could make tropical design for the hydropower facility is then drawn up, fishpasses more effective leaving the identification of impacts and detailed mitigation measures — including fishpasses — as Experience with tropical fishpasses show they the last two steps in the process. Peer reviews are are very ineffective in maintaining migratory fish either absent or too late. As a result, mitigation populations. One reason is the design process. measures are compromised and investor The conventional approach involves selecting expectations for energy production and capital a dam site and conducting an energy estimate investment at a site already selected. to maximise production before concluding
Illustration: Martin Mallen-Cooper
14 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Fishpasses
An alternative approach would be to identify social, fisheries and sediment impacts as well as dam/energy options and then make mitigation objectives an integral part of the design criteria before conducting an energy estimate and peer review, leaving the concession agreement as the final step. Such an approach would provide better outcomes and greater certainty for governments, people and investors.
Another reason for tropical fish passes being ineffective is design principles not being followed. This can occur when fishpass flow or biomass (the amount of migrating fish) are grossly underestimated. It can also occur when fish behaviour such as swimming ability is not understood.
Principles of design The design principles for fishpasses at large dams need to consider whether the project Fishpass entrances are needed at the turbines and at the spillway, where fish migrating upstream are attracted to the flow is part of a cascade or a single dam. They also need to integrate Illustration: Martin Mallen-Cooper biology, hydrology and hydraulics while taking into account both upstream and downstream migrations as well as the design of the entrance so fish can find the fishpass. Biomass and river flows also need to be considered. Assumptions should be documented and management should be adaptive.
For fish migrating upstream, spillways and turbines serve as attraction zones. Entrances can be designed on either side of the spillway or below the turbine. For downstream migration, larval drift needs to be recognised and the impacts of pressure, sheer and blade strike should be taken Impacts on downstream fish migration. Note that drifting eggs and larvae can sink and die in into account with fish passing the reservoir. through turbines. Pressure Illustration: Martin Mallen-Cooper
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 15 Fishpasses
change, known as barotrauma, can inflate the size goldfin tinfoil barb (Hypsibarbus malcomi), which of the swim bladder by three times in the case of would require a minimum passage rate of 80-91 a fish migrating downstream through a turbine on percent with one dam to maintain the population, a 20-metre high dam (see below). Deep turbines and 80-100 percent for large species like the can prevent pressure impacts. But they are more sharp-nosed catfish (Pangasius conchophilus), expensive and produce greater shear. Computer which would need minimum passage of 90 percent modelling can reduce shear, although the impacts with one dam. With two dams, however, the in turbines is unknown. population of both the goldfin tinfoil barb and the sharp-nosed catfish would not be viable.
Strategic hydropower A more strategic approach is to consider fish migration, spawning and habitats, especially upland species, spawning areas and larval drift as well as floodplain and nursery areas. One option is to combine hydropower with solar power. Japan is building a large floating solar power plant on the Yamakura Dam with a capacity of almost 14 MW (see opposite). Plans to build a 350 MW floating solar plant on the Balbina Dam in Brazil with electricity costing only $0.08 per kW/h indicate the potential. It has been estimated that a solar capacity of 2,000 MW would require 142 km of panels. In the case of the Nam Ngum 2 dam in Lao PDR, the energy generated could be used for daily
Impacts of pressure change (barotrauma) showing the volume of the consumption or stored for later use. swim bladder of a fish migrating downstream through a turbine on a 20-metre high dam. The upper image shows the swim bladder of the Tropical fishpasses that are more effective require fish located upstream from the turbine. The lower image shows the swim bladder inflating to about three times its normal volume after the three main knowledge gaps to be addressed fish enters the turbine. at the pre-feasibility stage — biogeography
Illustration: Martin Mallen-Cooper (fish distribution), fish ecology (larval drift) and downstream passage (barotrauma, especially with carps). For upstream and downstream passage, In the United States, Alden Research Laboratory capital investment should be estimated at 25 has shown that thicker turbine blades of up to percent of the project cost. Operating costs of 10 300 mm can protect fish from blade strike. To percent of the flow for fish passage for upstream protect fish larger than 300 mm, fish screens can and downstream passage (typical estimates are be used. With water flowing at 5,000 m3/s along less than 0.5 percent of flow). The main technical a 7 km stretch of the Mekong upstream, the cost challenges are effective upstream passage, the of 0.625 km2 of fish screens has been estimated installation of fish screens and passing sediment. at $870,000. The alternatives are either to accept declines in the abundance of larger fishes or * Halls, A.S. and M. Kshatriya (2009) Modelling the cumulative barrier and passage effects of mainstream hydropower dams on migratory change the site of the dam or energy option. fish populations in the Lower Mekong Basin. MRC Technical Paper No 25. Mekong River Commission, Vientiane. 104 pp.
Modelling by the Mekong River Commission* has The summary article above is based on a presentation by Dr Martin indicated turbine mortality rates of 2-15 percent Mallen-Cooper, director of Fishway Consulting Services in Australia, for small Mekong species such as the Siamese to the Lower Mekong Fish Passage Conference in Vientiane on November 17, 2016. Co-authors are Dr Boyd Kynard, director of BK- mud carp (Henicorhynchus siamensis). Minimum Riverfish LLC in the United States; Dr Lee Baumgartner, freshwater passage rates to maintain the population of this fish ecologist at the Institute for Land, Water and Society at Charles species are estimated at 60-87 percent with one Sturt University in Australia; Prof Ian Cowx, director of the Institute of International Fisheries at Hull University in the UK; and Prof Luiz dam and 80-95 percent with two dams, putting the Silva, a fish ecologist with the Universidade Federal de São João Del population at high risk. Mortality would be about Rei, Brazil. Updated information on the Yamakura Dam project from 35 percent for medium-sized species such as the Hina Morioka at Kyocera Corp in Tokyo.
16 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Fishpasses
Artist’s rendering of what was at the time of its announcement the world’s largest floating solar power plant under construction on the Yamakura Dam reservoir near Tokyo. Japan’s Kyocera Corp announced in January last year that it had started building the 13.7 MW plant as part of a joint venture with Century Tokyo Leasing Corp. Managed by the Public Enterprises Agency of Chiba Prefecture, the plant is scheduled to start operating in the fiscal year ending in March, 2018. The project involves installing about 51,000 Kyocera modules over a water surface area of 180,000 m2. Kyocera says the project will generate an estimated 16,170 (MWh) per year — enough electricity to power about 4,970 typical Japanese households
— while offsetting about 8,170 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to 19,000 barrels of oil. Kyocera, a diversified industrial ceramics manufacturer which is now a leading producer of solar power generating systems, holds 19 percent of the venture. Century Tokyo, a leading Japanese leasing company affiliated with Mizuho Financial Group and leading trading house Itochu Corp, holds the remaining 81 percent.The cost of the project has not been disclosed.
Photo: Kyocera TCL Solar LLC
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 17 Aquaculture (1)
Vietnamese pangasius exports rise 9.6% to $1.71 bln in 2016
Exports buoyed by stronger sales During the same period, VASEP said China and to American and Chinese markets Hong Kong overtook the European Union as the as sales to European Union and second largest importer of Vietnamese pangasius. other major markets decline Exports to these markets soared 88.7 percent to $304.7 million, the report said, adding that the Vietnamese exports of pangasius catfish Chinese and Hong Kong markets were “in the (mainly Pangasianodon hypophthalmus but also process” of becoming the largest market. Pangasius bocourti) rose 9.6 percent from a year earlier to $1.71 billion in 2016, the Vietnam Exports to the European Union meanwhile fell 8.5 Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers percent to $260.9 million. VASEP said exports to (VASEP) reported on February 24. the four largest markets all fell with declines of 7.5 percent to the Netherlands, 4.2 percent to Britain, The report said exports to the United States, 6.2 percent to Spain and 4.9 percent to Germany. the largest market, climbed 22.8 percent from “Pangasius exports to the EU face unhealthy a year earlier to $387.4 million, accounting for competition in communication from competitors,” 22.6 percent of total exports. In 2016, the country the report said. imported catfish from 13 major suppliers of which Viet Nam, China and Guyana were the three VASEP also reported lower exports to some other largest. major markets with declines of 0.2 percent to
Farm workers feeding catfish in a pond in Ben Tre Province in the Mekong Delta
Photo: Trinh Quoc Trong
18 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Aquaculture (1)
Carrefour’s statement on decision to stop stocking pangasius
The following is the full text of the statement However, although issued by Carrefour Belgium on January 24: Carrefour is absolutely certain Carrefour Belgium has decided to stop stocking that the quality pangasius and to discontinue sales of this of the pangasius particular fish in both its fresh seafood (fish that it has been counter and self-service) and frozen foods selling has been sections. This decision affects both its own- impeccable, the Carrefour fresh fish counter brand products, as well as those of national impact that these Photo: Carrefour brands. fish farms has been having on the The practice of consuming pangasius has environment cannot be controlled (water pollution been drawing criticism for a number of years generated by large quantities of excreta and food now. Carrefour has always taken all necessary waste). precautions to ensure that the merchandise that it sells is of a high quality. It does this by holding In France, Spain and Italy, Carrefour also its suppliers to the strict requirements detailed stopped selling the pangasius to fresh fish in the specifications that it imposes on them counters. and by carrying out regular checks at farms and production sites. Source: htt.p://www.carrefour.com/news/carrefour-belgium- decides-to-stop-selling-pangasius
ASEAN, 12 percent to Mexico, 12.5 percent to The Spanish station reportedly said pangasius Brazil, 5.4 percent to Colombia and 16.6 percent were being “raised in unclean cages and fed with to Saudi Arabia. non-industrial feed such as dead fish and other food waste.” SeafoodSource said the station was The Food and Agriculture Organization of the continuing to broadcast incorrect information about United Nations (FAO) reported earlier in February Vietnamese breeding of pangasius five days later. that supplies of Vietnamese pangasius had It said the report “obviously hadn’t been sufficiently declined last year due to drought. “As a result fact-checked, since most pangasius are raised in prices were reported to have increased. Industry ponds and fed specially manufactured diets." sources report that the supply situation is now improving,” said the report by Globefish, the FAO’s SeafoodSource noted that “it took years for the analysis and information unit for world fish trade . Vietnamese pangasius industry to recover from the effects of the German television program.” ‘Fake news about farming of pangasius’ But the outlook for exports to Europe is unclear. Viet Nam is by far the world’s largest producer of In January, French supermarket giant Carrefour pangasius catfish with most farms located in the announced that its stores in Belgium, France, Mekong Delta. Spain and Italy had ceased stocking pangasius, alleging that water pollution in farms could not be Further reading: controlled (see box above). http://seafood.vasep.com.vn/seafood/51_11780/vn-pangasius- exports-up-96-in-2016.htm In a commentary, the industry website SeafoodSource blamed a Spanish television http://www.fao.org/in-action/globefish/market-reports/ station for broadcasting “fake news about farming resource-detail/en/c/470021/ of pangasius in the Mekong River” that recalled a http://www.seafoodsource.com/commentary/pangasius-hit- “hatchet job on Vietnamese pangasius on German hard-by-fake-news television” in 2011.
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 19 Aquaculture (2)
Vietnamese shrimp industry urged to aim for export revenues of $10 bln by 2025
Government wants Mekong Delta to advantages” to develop its shrimp industry while become high-quality shrimp farming stressing the need for “high political determination and processing hub for the world and synchronous measures” to enhance the economic efficiency of the shrimp sector and help Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has improve the lives of farmers. urged the country’s shrimp industry to more than triple export revenues to $10 billion and develop “With regards to the development strategy and a world-famous Vietnamese shrimp trademark by vision of Vietnam’s shrimp industry, PM Phuc 2025, according to local media reports. The reports expressed his hope that the Mekong Delta would said the prime minister made the call on February 6 be developed into a high-quality shrimp farming this year at an industry conference in Ca Mau, the and processing hub for the world and that Vietnam Mekong Delta province that is also the country’s would strive to become the world’s shrimp largest shrimp-farming area. production workshop,” the report said.
According to Nhan Dan Online, the prime minister Nhan Dan, the central organ of the Communist said Vietnam had “sufficient conditions and Party of Vietnam, said the prime minister
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaking at the shrimp industry conference in Ca Mau on February 6
Photo: Vietnamese Government Portal
20 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Aquaculture (2)
Shrimp exports recover to $3 bln in 2016
Vietnamese shrimp exports rose 6.7 percent from a year earlier to $3.15 billion in 2016 after contracting 25 percent in 2015, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) reported on February 22 this year. Whiteleg shrimp accounted for 62 percent, black tiger shrimp 29.5 percent and marine shrimp 8.3 percent. VASEP said the recovery reflected an upward trend in global prices, higher demand from importers and increased output, especially of black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon), and greater currency stability. Stability in domestic Black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) which is widely raised in the prices of raw shrimp and increased export prices Mekong Delta provinces of Ca Mau and Bac Lieu. According to the also facilitated exports, the report said. Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP), Vietnam is the world's largest producer of this species VASEP said farmers faced obstacles in 2016 Photo: Nguyen Tam Quyet such as unfavourable weather, salinity, lack of raw material and disease. Exporters were pressured “asked the State Bank of Vietnam to direct by higher anti-dumping duties in the US as well as commercial banks to ensure capital for shrimp technical barriers in the EU, Japan and Australia. farming activities at reasonable rates of interest, In 2016, the top 10 importers were the US, the EU, particularly high-tech shrimp cultivation, while Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, Canada, encouraging experts to closely consult with ASEAN, Taiwan and Switzerland, accounting for 95 farmers to develop shrimp products suited to reach percent of exports. region, towards higher economic efficiency.” Despite lower export earnings from black tiger He also tasked the Ministry of Agriculture and shrimp in 2016, the report said Vietnam planned Rural Development with “promptly building to boost output and raise export volumes of the an action programme for the development of species amid increased demand and reduced Vietnam’s shrimp industry and submitting it to the global output. “Vietnam has the advantage of Government for consideration and approval.” being the largest producer of black tiger shrimp in the world,” VASEP said, noting that output in other main producers such as India, Indonesia and ‘Numerous opportunities South America was on a downward trend. Exports for development’ of black tiger shrimp products came to $931 million in 2016, down 3.4 percent from a year The report said Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh earlier. “The decline in black tiger shrimp exports Dung also addressed the conference, noting may be due to shortage of raw black tiger supply,” that the industry had “numerous opportunities the report said. for development thanks to the increasing global demand for shrimp and the suitability of shrimp In the first three months of 2017, shrimp exports cultivation in adaptation to climate change in the were forecast to reach $619 million, unchanged Mekong Delta region.” from a year earlier. VASEP said sales to the EU “may encounter some challenges” but that exports A separate report by Vietnam News Agency to Japan, South Korea, China and the United (VNA) quoted Prime Minister Phuc as saying States were expected to increase. that the shrimp industry should aim to account for 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic Further reading product (GDP). This report noted that the biggest http://seafood.vasep.com.vn/seafood/50_11773/vn-shrimp- producers were the central provinces of Ninh exports-inched-up-in-2016.htm
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 21 Aquaculture (2)
Thuan, Binh Thuan and Khanh Hoa and southwest provinces like Ca Mau and Bac Lieu in the Mekong Delta.
‘The area suitable for farming shrimp in Vietnam is very large, particularly the Mekong Delta’
“Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said that Vietnam’s shrimp industry still has a lot of room for more development, not only because the world’s demand is large but also because the area suitable for farming shrimp in Vietnam is very large, particularly the Mekong Delta,” the VNA report said.
The calls to develop the shrimp industry were echoed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong during a visit to Ca Mau on February 21. According to VNA, he told a working session with provincial officials that Ca Mau should develop agriculture, forestry and fisheries “with a focus on shrimp farming and processing”, as well as sea and forest-based economic activities. The Black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) being sorted after harvest in report said the province’s aquaculture area had the Mekong Delta
expanded to more than 300,000 ha, including Photo: Bay Doan Van more than 278,000 ha of shrimp farming.
Ambitious but achievable Korea and Australia. Increasing production and Truong Dinh Hoe, general secretary of the diversifying value-added shrimp products will push Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and up value and raise our competitive capacity,” he Processors (VASEP), reportedly said it was was quoted as saying, possible to maintain the ambitious export target of $10 billion set by the prime minister. "It will need Dang Quoc Tuan, Deputy General Director of great efforts, not just from shrimp farmers and Vietnam-Australia Seafood Corporation (Thuy San seafood processors, but from the government," Viet Uc), reportedly pointed to Vietnam's free-trade Hoe was quoted as telling VNA. “Investment agreements with Japan, the Republic of Korea, will be needed in the whole chain: post-larvae, Russia and Australia, which he said had been feed, seasonal planning, aquaculture methods, difficult markets. processing technology and seeking and expanding Further reading: markets." http://en.nhandan.com.vn/business/item/4979802-shrimp- Hoe reportedly said that a boom in Indian industry-urged-to-reach-us$10-billion-in-export-revenue- shrimp production, a recovery in productivity by-2025.html in Thailand after early mortality syndrome http://en.vietnamplus.vn/pm-wants-shrimp-exports-to-reach- and the development of the shrimp industry 10-billion-usd-by-2025/106789.vnp in Indonesia had put great pressure on the Vietnamese industry. "However, Vietnam can http://en.dangcongsan.vn/activities-of-the-party-and-state/ reach its target if we stabilise our high-quality party-leader-urges-ca-mau-to-develop-sea-and-forest-based- economy-427514.html shrimp supply, maintain tiger prawn [black tiger shrimp] production and keep our customers in http://seafood.vasep.com.vn/seafood/50_11790/vietnams-10- large markets like the US, Japan, the Republic of billion-export-target-for-shrimp.htm
22 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Aquaculture (2)
Harvesting black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) at a farm in Cau Ngang District in Tra Vinh Province in the Mekong Delta in 2012. At the time, the farm was also raising whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). Black tiger shrimp are native to the coastal waters of Southeast Asia as well as Australia, South Asia and East Africa whereas whiteleg shrimp are native to the Eastern Pacific.
Photo: Bay Doan Van
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 23 Aquaculture (3)
Vietnam says Australia's prawn import ban 'causing serious damage'
The Vietnamese Government has accused traded products, known as Australia of "causing serious damage" to its prawn sanitary and phytosanitary farmers and exporters, and has asked the Federal (SPS) measures. "Some Government to reconsider the ban on uncooked Vietnamese businesses view imports. Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby the suspension as going Joyce announced a six-month suspension on the beyond the necessary extent importation of raw prawns in January, following an provided for in the WTO outbreak of white spot disease in Queensland. agreement, but we are still studying this point of view of Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Vietnamese companies," Mr Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Khanh, said the ban had damaged his Tran said. Tran Quoc Khanh country's aquaculture industry which exports about Source: MOIT $55 million worth of uncooked prawns to Australia. The Seafood Importers "In our view, [the ban] is not in line with common Association of Australia has previously said the practices and the spirit of nurturing and enhancing ban had damaged Australia's international trade the existing good trade relationship between reputation, but the Department of Agriculture Vietnam and Australia," Mr Tran told the Australian defended the move, saying it was necessary to Broadcasting Corporation. protect the nation's aquaculture industry.
"The temporary ban on uncooked prawns was Mr Tran said he respected Australia's sovereignty issued by the Australian Government without and biosecurity decisions, but nonetheless asked giving sufficient time, by an advanced warning, the federal government to reconsider the need for for Vietnamese prawn exporters to take needed a ban. "We are supportive of the actions taken by actions to avoid such large economic losses. the Australian Government in applying necessary The prawn import suspension imposed by the measures to control the outbreak," he said. "This Australian Government has been causing serious does not imply that we push aside the safety of damage to the prawn farmers and exporters in the Australian prawn farming industry. We call for Vietnam. A number of Vietnamese exporters the close cooperation by the two sides in taking specialising in the Australian market are facing the alternative measures that have less negative risk of going bankrupt due to the suspension." impacts on our bilateral trade, while ensuring the safety of the Australian prawn farming industry and Australian authorities are still investigating how the environment in Australia." white spot disease spread to Australia, while prawn farmers have blamed Asian imports. Mr Mr Tran said Vietnamese uncooked prawn products Tran said Vietnam should be allowed to keep had been exported to many countries around the exporting raw prawns to Australia until there world without facing any import suspension. "We was proof foreign imports were the source of the are willing to support the Australian Government's outbreak. "In the case that Australia continues to decision on prawn import suspension but only when maintain the ban, Vietnam requests Australia to — in the case that other measures which have less provide adequate scientific evidence as soon as negative impacts on trade — have proved to be possible, that shows a causal relationship between ineffective or useless," he said. the prawn imports from Vietnam and the outbreak of white spot disease in Australia," Mr Tran said. Source: Vietnam Trade office in Australia (Concurrent Vanuatu, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, The Solomon Islands) Ban could break WTO rules Vietnam said the ban may be in breach of a Editor's note: In Australia, the word "prawn" tends to be the World Trade Organisation agreement on how generic term for both freshwater prawns and marine crustaceans such as black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). governments could apply food safety measures to
24 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Aquaculture (4)
Can Tho to host international aquaculture trade show in October
Trade show to be held at Can Tho were expected to increase five percent from last International Exhibition Fair Centre year to around $7.5 billion in 2017, noting that from October 25 to 27 this year aquaculture accounts for about 65 percent of the country’s fisheries exports by value. Shrimp A Hong Kong-based company has announced account for about half of the export value. it is organising an an international aquaculture trade show in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho The company also noted Can Tho's “crucial role” in October this year. In a statement released on as one of the aquaculture provinces in Vietnam February 27, UBM Asia said Aquaculture Vietnam with the greatest potential while also being home 2017 would address “issues to support the further to the College of Aquaculture and Fisheries at Can sustainable development of the Vietnamese Tho University - one of the country's leading units aquaculture industry.” doing research in aquaculture and fisheries.
Rungphech Chitanuwat, the company’s group The trade show is supported by the Vietnam director for ASEAN, said the trade show would Fisheries Society (VINAFIS), the International cover “the whole aquaculture sector value chain, Collaborating Centre for Aquaculture and Fisheries including feed, health and nutrition, genetics, Sustainability (ICAFIS), Aquaculture Without equipment, processing and much more. A diverse Frontiers and International Aqua Feed Magazine, technical and scientific program featuring locally the statement said. and internationally renowned speakers will be complemented by a major trade show with leading Further reading exhibitors from around ASEAN and the world, www.aquaculturevn.com showcasing the latest in products and services.
“Our objective is to provide aquaculture professionals valuable opportunities to network and meet decision makers, create business opportunities and provide solutions to their business challenges,” she said. Partnering with governments, NGO's, industry and academia would “promote best practice production systems that are environmentally friendly, consumer-oriented and economically viable.”
UBM Asia said Viet News conference announcing the trade show in Can Tho on February 22 Nam’s fisheries exports Photo: UBM
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 25 Animal nutrition
Germany’s Evonic Industries brings newly acquired Spanish probiotic to Asia
Company says it aims to play a ‘leading role’ in field of sustainable and Benefits to aquaculture antibiotic-free animal management, especially shrimp farming in Southeast According to Norel, the Spanish company that Asia. Earlier announcement with Swiss sold Ecobiol to Evonik last year, the biological additive is composed of a strain of sporulated company unveiled plans to invest $200 bacteria (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT- million on a new plant to produce an 5940). Its benefits to aquaculture include algal oil for use as a sustainable higher survival, improved nutrient utilization, alternative to fish oil in animal increased biomass and increased profits. nutrition including in aquaculture.
German specialty chemicals company Evonik Industries AG is expanding its portfolio in Asia with the probiotic Ecobiol which it acquired from Spanish company Norel SA in 2016. Designed for use in aquaculture and poultry production, Evonik said the product was being launched at the three- day VIV Asia international feed and food trade show in Bangkok starting on March 15.
In a statement released on the eve of the trade show, the company said Ecobiol helped to maintain natural gut balance and had a positive effect on the gut microbiome that had been scientifically proven. A healthy gut prevents inflammatory diseases which can cause high costs, it said.
“We are convinced of the product’s high potential and its applicability in various fields by virtue of unique properties,” said Emmanuel Auer, head
of the company’s animal nutrition business. Auer Promotional illustration previously used for Ecobiol said the company considered Ecobiol a “key element towards the reduction of antibiotic growth Photo: Norel promoters. This way, we contribute to healthy and sustainable animal nutrition.” Evonik said it intended to assume a “leading role in the field of sustainable and antibiotic-free livestock Shrimp farming management,” noting that its animal nutrition Peter Freisler, head of the company’s gut health business had more than 60 years of experience solutions business, said Ecobiol showed “very in making essential amino acids. “Evonik wants to positive results in both poultry and aquaculture, make an even greater contribution to the efficiency for instance under various stress conditions. That and sustainability of animal feed by complementing has been demonstrated in scientific studies as well its portfolio with innovative feed additives beyond as in commercial use. For our customers in South amino acids in order to create additional value for East Asia this is of focal interest, particularly in its customers,” the statement said. shrimp farming.”
26 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Animal nutrition
With operations in more than 100 countries and for commercialization. “Both companies achieved more than 35,000 employees, the Essen-based positive results in the development of the product company generated sales of €12.7 billion and an while extensively working with the entire value operating profit of €2.3 billion in fiscal 2016. The chain, including fish feed producers, fish farmers animal nutrition business is part of the company’s and retailers,” the joint statement said health care segment which has about 7,500 employees, and generated sales of around €4.3 Under the joint development agreement, DSM billion in 2016. Its focus has been on developing and Evonik said they successfully produced industrial biotechnology processes and operating pilot-scale quantities of the algal oil at DSM’s competitively large-scale manufacturing sites for production facility in Kingstree in South Carolina fermentative amino acids. in the United States. While the construction of the new manufacturing plant is underway, customers Omega-3 fatty acid venture will be able to receive “sizeable quantities” of the In a separate joint statement released on March 8, product for market development . Evonik and Switzerland’s Royal DSM announced plans to set up a joint venture for omega-3 fatty ‘Sustainable non-fish alternative’ acid products from natural marine algae for animal Using algal oil instead of fish oil is seen helping nutrition. The two companies said they would the aquaculture industry to grow sustainably. each hold 50 percent of the venture, to be named “Limited wild fish stocks restrict the amount of fish Veramaris and based in the Netherlands, with each oil available and thus the growth of the aquaculture company planning to invest $100 million on a new industry. Currently, the industry uses about 75 production facility to be built at an existing Evonik percent of the annual production of fish oil. Evonik site in the United States over the next two years. and DSM’s algal oil will offer a sustainable non-fish alternative,” the statement said “This breakthrough innovation will, for the first time, enable the production of omega-3 fatty acids “Just like humans, animals also need their daily for animal nutrition without using fish oil from wild intake of essential, long-chain polyunsaturated caught fish, a finite resource,” the joint statement fatty acids in their diet to ensure healthy growth. said. While aimed at initial applications in salmon Until now, these fatty acids have been added to aquaculture and pet food, “DSM and Evonik are aquaculture feed and pet food almost exclusively also pursuing applications of their algal oil for from marine sources such as fish oil and fishmeal. other aquatic and terrestrial animal species.” The As the new algal oil can be applied in feed statement said initial annual production capacity production in the same way as fish oil, it can easily would meet roughly 15 percent of the salmon be introduced by feed and pet food producers.” aquaculture industry’s annual demand for two omega-3 fatty acids known as eicosapentaenoic Based in Kaiseraugst in northern Switzerland and acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) listed as Koninklijke DSM NV in the Netherlands, Royal DSM is a global science-based company “Evonik’s and DSM’s highly concentrated algal oil with expertise in cultivating marine organisms is a high value and pure source that will enable including algae and long-established biotechnology the animal nutrition industry to keep up with capabilities. The company has some 25,000 the increasing demand for these two essential employees and annual sales of about €10 billion. omega-3 fatty acids without endangering fish stocks, contributing to healthy animal nutrition as Further reading well as to the ecological balance and biodiversity http://corporate.evonik.com/en/media/press_releases/Pages/ of the oceans,” the statement added. news-details.aspx?newsid=66207
Joint development since 2015 http://corporate.evonik.com/en/media/press_releases/Pages/ The joint venture follows a joint development news-details.aspx?newsid=66057 agreement signed in July 2015. Under the http://www.dsm.com/corporate/media/informationcenter- agreement, Evonik and DSM said they jointly news/2017/03/2017-03-08-dsm-and-evonik-establish-joint- worked on the development of products and the venture-for-omega-3-fatty-acids-from-natural-marine-algae- manufacturing process and explored opportunities for-animal-nutrition.html
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 27 New aid project
‘Wonders of the Mekong’ project launched in Phnom Penh
Cambodia’s Inland Fisheries Research extraordinary ecosystems on Earth. and Development Institute (IFReDI) launched a five-year project with the The project is starting at a time when the Mekong River Basin, which supports more than 60 million Global Water Center of the University people, is undergoing huge transformation. While of Nevada, Reno in Phnom Penh on the river itself—long relatively untouched—is February 7. Other partners in the USAID- changing due to the building of dams, climate funded project are the California-based change and habitat loss, larger economic and fisheries and environmental consulting political forces are reshaping an entire region rich company Fishbio, the University of Sydney, in culture and history. Utah State University and the National Science Teachers Association “In my opinion, the Mekong River is the most of the United States. important river in the world,” said project leader Dr. Zeb Hogan, a conservation biologist and research Researchers from the Global Water Center assistant professor at the University of Nevada's are leading the new research project, called College of Science who is also a member of the “The Wonders of the Mekong,” which brings Global Water Center. together a multi-disciplinary team in an effort to generate greater awareness of one of the most “But the Mekong River is now at a tipping point,
From left, project leader Dr Zeb Hogan with Dr Nao Thuok, Secretary of State at the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Ms Polly Dunford, director of the Cambodian mission of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the project launch in Phnom Penh on February 7
Photo: Chhut Chheana
28 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 New aid project
Government welcomes new project
The Cambodian Government welcomed the will work with the Cambodian government staff Wonders of the Mekong project at its launch to build partnerships and develop educational in Phnom Penh on February 7, saying its goals materials to advance research on the importance were in line with government priorities. “We of the Mekong River,” he said. welcome new collaborative research activities like the Wonders of the Mekong project and Dr Nao Thuok added that the project was look forward to being an active partner for "designed to bring increased awareness of contributing to national and regional efforts in the importance of the Mekong River and its natural resource conservation,” said Dr Nao ecosystem, which are vital to the economic and Thuok, Secretary of State at the Ministry of social health of Southeast Asia. Using popular Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. media, the Wonders of the Mekong project will share stories about the way that the people of Dr Nao Thuok said the third phase of the the region use and benefit from the Mekong government’s Rectangular Strategy, the River and its tributaries. National Strategic Development Plan 2014-18, the Agriculture Strategic Development Plan "Together, we can build a sustainable future of for 2014-18 and the newly revised Strategic the Mekong and the Kingdom of Cambodia – a Planning Framework for Fisheries Development future that will benefit Cambodians who depend 2015-24 "all stipulate the importance of on the river for their livelihoods and the river fisheries, the eradication of extreme poverty itself as the most important river system in the and hunger, the promotion of gender equity and world. women's empowerment.” “The Cambodian Government fully supports He noted that the vision for the Cambodian the Wonders of the Mekong project and the fisheries sector is: Management, conservation partnership it brings between the US and and development of sustainable fisheries Cambodian people. Together, we can understand resources to contribute to ensuring people’s the challenges and offer solutions that will help food security and to socio-economic the Cambodian people conserve the unique development in order to enhance people’s biodiversity of this precious ecosystem.” livelihoods and the nation’s prosperity.
Dr Nao Thuok said he believed the project goals and activities "overlap more or less or complement" priorities of the ministry and the Cambodian Fisheries Administration. “We can collaborate very closely and I am very happy to see and work with Dr Zeb Hogan again since we are old friends since more than 10 years ago,” he said.
The Secretary of State noted that the project would rely on expertise from leading Cambodian and international Dr Nao Thuok speaking at the project launch on February 7 research institutes. "The project Photo: Chhut Chheana
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 29
New aid project
where the choices made in the next 10 or 15 years species, 800 kinds of reptiles and amphibians, and could make or break the life it sustains.” 430 species of mammals, including Indochinese tigers, Asian elephants, and the critically The serpent of Southeast Asia endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. Originating high in the glaciated mountains of Tibet, the Mekong River is fed by the same The river itself supports almost 1,000 different headwaters that supply China’s Yangtze and species of fish, ranking it second only to the Yellow Rivers. In China, the river is called Amazon in terms of fish diversity. It also has more Lancang, changing its name to the Mekong as it giant fish than any other river on Earth, from giant crosses into Laos and Myanmar. freshwater stingrays to 500-pound (230 kg) carp.
It continues to flow through some of the most “The Mekong River is heaven for a fish biologist,” spectacular scenery in the world, including the said Hogan. “It is superlative in every way. But it is forested mountains of the Golden Triangle, an area also a region at risk. notorious for its opium production. For hundreds of miles, the river forms the border between Thailand “Cambodia is a last refuge for biodiversity teetering and Laos. Later, in what may be its wildest stretch, on a knife’s edge, and many of the largest, most it turns into a series of swirling rapids known as iconic animals are on the brink of extinction.” Khon Pi Long in Lao and Kaeng Khon Pi Luang in Thai, or “where the ghost lost its way,” passing In part for that reason, the project headquarters will through an archipelago of 4,000 islands, many of be in Phnom Penh. Of all the countries connected them dotted with temples and shrines, as well as to the Mekong, none is more closely intertwined the world’s widest waterfall, before finally leaving with the river than Cambodia, sitting as it does at Laos and dropping into Cambodia. the heart of the largest inland fishery in the world. According to some estimates, the Mekong River There, it forms deep pools sheltering the world’s Basin produces more than three million tons of fish largest freshwater fish before running into vast a year, accounting for an astonishing quarter of the flood plains and flooded forest that drive much of global freshwater catch. the region’s productivity. It is joined by a tributary that changes direction every year and connects it Its fertile delta also helps to feed the world’s growing with the Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia’s largest appetite for rice. In 2014, Cambodia and the other lake and “the beating heart of Cambodia.” Later, lower Mekong countries produced more than 100 in Viet Nam, it runs through rice plantations with a million tons of rice, around 15 percent of the world’s special breed of floating rice growing meters tall in total. The endless rice plantations seen throughout pace with rising floodwaters, before splitting into central Cambodia depend on the nutrient-rich nine branches known as “the nine dragons,” and sediments that the Mekong carries downriver, mainly eventually disgorging into the South China Sea. during the rainy season from June to October.
“The Mekong and associated tributaries are Indeed, what happens at one end of the Mekong wonderfully large, interconnecting with their River has a strong impact on what goes on in landscape during wet season and retreating into another. Experts are particularly fearful that the their channels during the dry season,” said Sudeep construction of a series of dams in Laos and other Chandra, director of the Global Water Center. areas in the upper reaches of the Mekong River and its tributaries will destroy crucial habitats for “The scale of this connection in the Mekong is migrating fish and could ultimately lead to the like no other, as evidenced by the vast amount of extinction of many vulnerable fish species, such biodiversity and production of fishes that comes as the critically endangered “giant pangasius,” a out of the system annually,” he added. predatory species also known as the “dog-eating” catfish that can grow up to 10 feet (3 metres) long. World’s biggest inland fishery The Greater Mekong region is in fact one of the From holistic science to sustainable economics most biodiverse areas in the world. It contains no While economic growth has steadily increased in fewer than 20,000 species of plants, 1,200 bird the region, many of the countries remain mired
30 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 New aid project
A foundation for sustainable development and resilience
The Wonders of the Mekong project aims to conduct applied research and build capacity. It also aims to develop outreach and communications materials to highlight the economic, ecological and cultural values of biodiversity and ecosystem services associated with the Lower Mekong. According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), “the outputs and resulting products, developed as an integrated package, will lead to better protection of vibrant and healthy Lower Mekong system.” Project gets underway with new boat on the Tonle Sap River
Photo: Thach Phanara USAID describes the Lower Mekong as “the most important river and delta ♦ training, capacity building and workshops system in the world”, and says the project to share knowledge and perspectives on goals of maintaining the system’s economic, sustainably managing the Mekong system, ecological and cultural integrity are expected to particularly in the context of a changing be achieved through: climate; and
♦ applied interdisciplinary research to ♦ communications and media products to improve understanding, management increase public and government valuation and capacity and appreciation of a functional and conservation of the Mekong River’s ecosystem healthy Mekong River for fish, wildlife and services, habitats, cultural heritage and people; biodiversity.
in poverty. Economic pressures, including the an epicenter of the Buddhist faith, as well as the demand for land for industrial agriculture, the ancient cities of the Angkor empire, the biggest unsustainable harvesting of not only fish but urban complex of the preindustrial world. also high-value timber, and the impact of rapid urbanization, are intensifying. “The goal of this project is to meld an understanding of the current science on “We have to recognize the need for economic biodiversity, climate, and hydrology of the Mekong growth,” says Hogan. “Development and River Basin with a historical and archaeological conservation must work in tandem. It can’t be an understanding of this system to point toward a either-or proposition.” sustainable future,” said Hogan.
Almost as striking as its biodiversity is the Mekong “Given the importance of a healthy, connected region’s cultural diversity. There are more than Mekong to people, fish, and wildlife, the decisions 300 million people from nearly 100 distinct ethnic made today are critical to the future of the region.” groups living in the Greater Mekong area. It also The article above is based on the first of a series of stories on the has a rich cultural and historical heritage. It is Wonders of the Mekong Project by National Geographic writer Stefan home to the northern Lao city of Luang Prabang, Lovgren
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 31 Toxicology
Dutch toxicological assessment finds no‘ safety concern’ with Vietnamese catfish
New study addresses because of a mistrust of the Vietnamese industry unsubstantiated media reports and regulation by European and North American importing markets. It appears that the inherent Over the past decade or so, various media mistrust of Vietnamese pangasius and wider reports — mostly from Europe — have claimed health concerns associated with seafood, coupled that pangasius catfish farmed in Viet Nam are with market protectionism, have been complicit in full of poison because they can survive in the fuelling the negative public sentiment and media supposedly heavy polluted Mekong River. Most of around the safety of consuming pangasius.” these claims were not backed by scientific evidence (nor did they take into account the Mekong River To conduct the assessment, the researchers Commission’s regular water quality monitoring, the looked at the claims made in a dozen media latest of which finds Mekong Delta water quality reports in Belgium, France, Norway, the as mostly “good” for aquatic life — see Catch and Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Spain and the Culture - Environment, Vol 22, No 2). Moreover, the United States between 2008 and 2014. The perceived food risk claims had not been subjected suggestion was that pangasius is “full of poison” to any systematic or critical assessment. with circumstantial evidence that the Mekong River is “heavily polluted” and that pangasius is With this in mind, scientists from Wageningen “thus” loaded with toxic compounds such as DDT, University in the Netherlands have filled the gap arsenic, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. by performing a full toxicological risk assessment based on the highest contaminant levels ever “The statements have been repeatedly posted reported for pangasius imported from Viet Nam to on websites and other media sources in several the European Union. countries and have even been debated in the European Parliament with no critical reflection or ‘Negative public sentiment and assessment as to their accuracy,” the researchers media around the safety of said. “None of these media sources make any reference to actual levels of these contaminants, nor consuming pangasius’ do they make any reference to any sources of data.”
The study, published in Reviews in Aquaculture last As a first step, the researchers identified toxic year, noted that media reports about hazards and compounds that reportedly posed a risk for risks associated with aquaculture had focussed pangasius consumers and levels of these on a few globally traded species — notably compounds when available (see box). They then salmon, shrimp and pangasius. “These species collected notifications of pangasius imported into all share considerable controversy surrounding the European Union from the European Rapid the exponential growth of their production and Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and associated environmental impacts,” it said, “But searched for additional scientific information on the response of these three industries has been levels of contaminants in pangasius produced in markedly different. For example, the salmon Viet Nam. For all compounds for which levels in industry has been able to counter many of the pangasius could be found, the acceptable daily accusations made because production is based in intakes (ADI) were searched for or deduced North America and Northern Europe where there is from scientific literature. The researchers then strong industry and government support … calculated the amount of pangasius fillet that could be consumed, without exceeding the ADI if it had "In contrast, pangasius has been less successful a restricted substance at a level equivalent to the in countering negative media attention, in part highest reported by the RASFF at import. Finally,
32 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Toxicology
Approach to the study
♦ Maximum ♦ Maximum residue level residue level ♦ Toxic compounds & year mentioned in the media ♦ European Rapid Levels in pangasius Discussion & Alert System for (public & European conclusions Food and Feed Rapid Alert System notifications for Food and Feed) ♦ Literature study Safe daily ♦ Acceptable daily pangasius intake consumption
Source: Murk et al. (2016)
the results were compared to the various media However, it would appear that these compounds claims. do not accumulate in the fish to a level that poses a risk to the consumer,” the authors said. At the ‘No scientific evidence for the various same time, “it cannot be excluded that these statements that have been made environmental contaminants pose an ongoing against Vietnamese pangasius’ risk to the Mekong Delta ecosystem, because the environmental risk is not assessed in this study.”
“Our analysis demonstrates that there is no food The authors noted that subtleties of risk safety concern from either environmental or assessment and risk management were applied contaminant compounds in pangasius,” “poorly understood by the public.” By not the study concluded. “Furthermore, we have found correctly interpreting exposure and effect, the no scientific evidence for the various statements difference between hazard and risk, and/or toxic that have been made against Vietnamese concentrations, “mass media accusations of pangasius across a broad set of media chemical ‘risk’ will continue to confuse any real sources – ranging from blog sites, newspapers, assessment and debate, as demonstrated by the documentaries and parliamentary transcripts.” case of pangasius in the European market.”
The authors said the findings supported The authors acknowledged that media could play the Netherlands Food Safety Authority an important role in positively influencing consumer recommendation that there was “no reason to choices about safe and sustainable fish. In the intensify monitoring of chemical contaminants”, meantime, claims that create confusion have recalling a public scare about the herbicide economic consequences for both exporters like Viet trifluralin and the insecticide chlorpyrifos shortly Nam and importing regions like Europe, the latest before Christmas in 2010. It was subsequently example being the move by French supermarket calculated that 21 kg of pangasius of fillet would giant Carrefour to stop stocking pangasius in have to be eaten per day to reach the ADI for January amid pollution concerns (see page 19). trifluralin and 11 kg per day for chlorpyrifos. Further reading “Given the open nature of pond production Murk, A.J., I. M.C.M. Rietjens and S. R. Bush (2016) systems in Vietnam, the fish may be exposed Perceived versus real toxicological safety of pangasius to a range of environmental contaminants or catfish: a review modifying market perspectives. Reviews in substances related to the production process itself. Aquaculture (2016) 0, 1–12 doi: 10.1111/raq.12151
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 33 Socio-economics
The MRC Socio-Economic Database
By Phattareeya Suanrattanachai and So Nam *
Data on socio-economic issues related the MRC has developed Procedures for Data to water resource development and and Information Exchange and Sharing (PDIES). management in the Lower Mekong Basin With this regional platform, the MRC Secretariat have been uploaded to the MRC website. and all four National Mekong Committees worked Sixty-eight of the full inventory of 130 with experts of national statistics offices and other relevant agencies between 2013 and 2015 to indicators are now available. develop a regional database known as the MRC Socio-Economic Database. The MRC needs socio-economic data for updating its Basin Development Strategy, preparing five- The main objectives of establishing the database year Strategic Plans and conducting various are to support and strengthen: social and economic assessments. These data are required to analyse the impacts and risks a) in the next associated with ongoing and planned development assessment of social impacts cycle of basin-level strategic assessment of and to identify solutions to minimise and mitigate needs and opportunities by providing up-to-date those impacts and risks with the aim of achieving data at an appropriate level of disaggregation; sustainable water development and alleviating poverty through water-related interventions in the b) Mekong Basin. monitoring of basin-scale socio-economic conditions as part of State of the Basin reporting by providing evidence-based data on Under the 1995 Mekong Agreement between prevailing demographic patterns and social and Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, economic conditions within the basin;
MRC Socio-Economic Database
Source: MRC
34 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Socio-economics
An example of the result of the database visualisation by a pie chart
Source: MRC c) the Social Impact Monitoring and database itself, providing a good starting point to Vulnerability Assessment (SIMVA) process easily understand what indicators the database by providing baseline vulnerability data to contains and from which administrative boundaries support upscaling of SIMVA results throughout the data is coming (http://sedb.mrcmekong.org/ the Lower Mekong Basin; and manual/data-inventory.html). d) national capacity to undertake water resource The socio-economic indicators are both single planning and assessments at national and sub- and compound indicators. With this framework, national levels according to the principles of they can be defined as monitoring parameters, integrated water resource management. assessment indicators and strategic indicators in accordance with a hierarchy of indicators for The database includes indicators such as monitoring and assessment. The indicators are population size and distribution, education, therefore used as variables/parameters to assess literacy, fertility, mortality, economic activities, labor cross-cutting socio-economic issues related to and health as well as agriculture (areas with 2-3 water resource development and management. crops per year, total irrigated area, total irrigated cropped area, rice production and rice yields), The MRC Socio-Economic Database and fisheries, (including catches and habitats), forestry webpage marks the foundation of a platform for (households engaged in forestry) and tourist data sharing and exchange implemented under arrivals. the MRC Procedures for Data and Information Exchange and Sharing. The four Member Data for 68 of the 130 indicators inventoried have Countries should work and cooperate with the been uploaded to the MRC website (http://sedb. MRC Secretariat to fill the data gap for the mrcmekong.org/devinfo/libraries/aspx/home.aspx). remaining indicators. Each indicator is marked at the administrative level of a Member Country to indicate data availability. * Dr Phattareeya is the Fisheries Management Specialist at the MRC’s Environmental Management Division and Dr So Nam is the The data inventory table is synchronised with the MRC’s Chief Environment Management Officer
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 35 Wetlands
How to value the ecosystem services of wetlands in the Lower Mekong Basin
By Prayooth Yaowakhan and So Nam *
Valuations of ecosystem services generally and biogeochemical cycling of water and nutrients follow three approaches. If budgets don’t and providing habitat, spawning, nursing and allow for original studies, valuations can foraging grounds for a wide range of species. be based on studies in similar settings. These in turn support millions of farmers and fisherfolk across the basin (MRC, 2015). The Mekong River is one of the world’s most productive river systems, connecting six Asian Wetland ecosystems provide goods and services nations and providing livelihoods for millions for the use and benefits of people, especially of people (MRC, 2010). The river and its basin households and communities living in core, remain a site of global diversity significance. At the buffer or adjacent zones (MEA, 2005). Under heart of the basin’s productivity and biodiversity the Millennium Ecosystems Assessment (MEA) there are more than 250,000 km2 of wetland areas approach, ecosystem goods and services spanning some 60 different types. Each year, in are categorised into provisioning, regulating, response to the monsoon and the Mekong’s flood supporting and cultural services. These provide pulse, these wetlands transition from terrestrial to direct, indirect and non-use values to build human aquatic systems, facilitating important hydrological livelihood systems. For example, people exploit
Aerial view of unique flooded forests at the Ramsar Site in StungTreng Province in northeast Cambodia
Photo: Adam Oswell/WWF-Cambodia
36 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Wetlands
DIRECT INDIRECT OPTION NON-USE VALUES VALUES VALUES VALUES
Production and Ecosystems Premium placed Intrinsic consumption goods functions and on possible significance of such as: services such as: future users or resources and Water, Fish, Firewood, Water quality and flow, applications ecosystems Bulding poles, Thatch, Water storage such as: in terms of : Wild foods, Medicines, and recharge; Agricultural, Cultural value, Crops, Pasture, Nutrient cycling; Industrial, Leisure, Aesthetic value, Transport, Flood attenuation, Pharmaceutical, Heritage value, Recreation Micro-climate Water use Bequest value ...etc...... etc...... etc...... etc...
Total value of wetlands
Source: Springate-Baginski et al., 2009 wetland ecosystem services to build wetland- to as “passive-use values”) are intrinsic values dependent livelihoods such as fishing, agriculture, people may have for preserving a resource. Even aquaculture, agro-forestry, and ecotourism (MRC, though they may not receive any direct or indirect 2015) (see above and table on page 39). benefits (Kaval, 2010; Boardman et al., 2001), they are willing to pay for such protection. Non-use Direct-use benefits of ecosystem services involve values include those associated with protecting some kind of physical interaction, such as the biodiversity or natural landmarks for their own sake extraction of fish or fresh drinking water and (existence values), preserving indigenous cultures most forms of recreation. Indirect-use benefits (cultural heritage values) or the desire to pass do not necessarily involve physical interaction resources to future generations (bequest values). but represent a beneficial use – for example, the flood-control benefits of wetlands that protect USAID (2015) reported that the concept of total properties downstream even though the property economic value (TEV) is used to describe the sum owners who benefit may not actually visit the of all of these values – use, non-use, direct and wetlands providing this service. indirect. TEV provides the most comprehensive measure of ecosystem service benefits and On the other hand, non-use values (also referred thus represents the “gold standard” when
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 37 Wetlands
People engage in rice farming and communal fishing as well as raising cattle and water buffalo in the Xe Champhone Wetlands in Lao PDR
Source: Ramsar Convention website
38 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Wetlands
Service Specific services Comments and examples catergories Provisioning Food Production of fish, wild game, fruits, and grains Freshwater Storage and retention of water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use Fibre and fuel Production of logs, fuelwood, peat, fodder Biochemical Extraction of medicines and other material from biota Genetic materials Genes for resistance to plant pathogens, ornamental species, and so on Regulating Climate regulation Source of and sink for greenhouse gases; influence local and regional temperature, precipitation, and other climatic processes Water regulation Groundwater recharge/discharge (hydrological flows) Water purification and Retention, recovery, and removal of excess nutrients and other waste treatment pollutants and waste treatment Erosion regulation Retention of soils and sediments Natural hazard Flood control, storm protection regulation Pollination Habitat for pollinators Culture Spiritual and inspiritual Source of inspiration: many religions attach spiritual and religious values to aspects of wetland ecosystems Recreational Opportunities for recreational activities Aesthetic Many people find beauty of aesthetic value in aspects of wetland ecosytems Educational Opportunities for formal and informal education and training Supporting Soil formation Sediment retention and accumulation of organic matter Nutrient cycling Storage, recycling, processing, and acquisition of nutrients
Ecosystem services provided by or derived from wetlands
Source: Springate-Baginski et al., 2009 conducting valuation studies. For example, the benefits transfer method. TEV framework is now widely used to identify the costs and benefits associated with protected Revealed-preference approaches areas (ICEM, 2003). However, it is also widely Revealed-preference methods of measuring understood that certain values – especially non- ecosystem service values are based on direct use values – may be too difficult to obtain and too market purchases of ecosystem goods or services subjective in many situations. or purchases of other goods and services whose prices are influenced by environmental quality. When original valuation studies are undertaken, Specific techniques include: methods for quantifying values are generally grouped into three major categories: revealed- ♦ Market prices: valuations are directly preference approaches, stated-preference obtained from what people actually pay for the approaches and cost-based approaches (Liu et ecosystem goods or services in formal markets. al., 2010; De Groot et al., 2002; Freeman, 1993). Examples include the prices paid for fish, game, When budgets do not allow for original valuation non-timber forest products or recreational studies, researchers use what is known as the access.
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 39 Wetlands
♦ Travel cost: valuations of site-based ♦ Choice experiments: asking a series of attractiveness are implied by the travel costs questions about a respondent’s relative people incur to enjoy them. For example, preferences for various management strategies average purchases of fuel, goods and airline and associated ecological conditions. For tickets to visit a particular natural area can be example, respondents choose between used to derive the value of a recreational visit. various levels of water quality with different management strategies and associated costs ♦ Hedonic pricing: the value of a service is of achieving those levels. There will typically be implied by what people will be willing to pay three or four alternative strategies with similar for the service through purchases in related attributes (per question) presented. markets, such as housing markets. A typical example is the premium people are willing to ♦ Conjoint analysis: A variant of choice pay for houses adjacent to parks and open experiments where people are asked to rank spaces or houses with scenic vistas. This price ecological conditions created by various premium can be translated into a corresponding management strategies (rather than choose ecosystem service benefit per hectare. one). For example, respondents would assign ranks to various scenarios for wetlands ♦ Factor income: ecosystem service values management that involve trade-offs between are derived from their impact on yields and flood-control benefits and fishery yields. income from marketed products. For example, agricultural yields have been shown to be Cost-based approaches greater in fields that retain more biodiversity Cost-based methods use historical cost data or (e.g. Shelley et al., 2014). The increase projections to quantify the costs society would in farmers’ income is thus a signal of the incur if an ecosystem were lost or what it would underlying value of biodiversity. take to replace an ecosystem service with a technological solution. There are three primary Stated-preference approaches methods: Stated-preference methods of measuring non- market values use surveys or interviews to ♦ Avoided cost: this method assigns values to ask people directly about their willingness to ecosystem services based on costs that would pay for goods or services or to rank alternative be incurred in their absence. For example, management scenarios and ecological forests, wetlands and mangroves provide many attributes. The surveys typically involve a choice flood-control benefits. Loss of life and property about a hypothetical or proposed situation. and damage to infrastructure would increase if A distinct advantage of this method is that they were lost. it allows researchers and policy makers to target preferences for specific components ♦ Replacement cost: valuing ecosystem of environmental changes, such as existence services by calculating the cost of replacing value (Raheem et al., 2006). A disadvantage is them with technological solutions. For example, that survey results can be affected by strategic replacing natural fisheries with hatcheries. responses, or responses that are designed to influence the outcome of the research, rather than ♦ Restoration cost: Restoration cost is a by honest responses. Specific techniques include: method used to calculate the cost of restoring an ecosystem to its natural state after it has ♦ Contingent valuation: people are directly experienced environmental damage such asked their willingness to pay or accept as an oil spill (Kaval, 2010). Or it involves compensation for some change in an calculating the cost of restoring an ecosystem ecosystem service or environmental quality. in damaged landscapes, such as promoting the For example, a survey would ask respondents natural regeneration of woodlands in areas that to state their maximum willingness to pay each have been overgrazed by livestock. The cost year into a fund to acquire and protect the of restoration is then used as a proxy for its habitat of an endangered species. ecosystem service values.
40 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 Wetlands
Benefits transfer Kaval, P. 2010. A summary if Ecosystem Service Valuation All of the methods mentioned above are Methods and Recommendations for Future Studies. Department of Economics Working Paper in Economics appropriate when analysts have the resources 10/02. Hamilton, NZ: University of Waikato. and time to complete original valuation studies. However, in many situations, budgets for these Liu, S., Constanza, R., Farber, S. and Troy, A. 2010. Valuing studies or the requisite amount of time to complete ecosystem services: theory, practice, and the need for them do not exist. In these situations, economists transdisciplinary synthesis. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1185: 54-78. use a technique known as benefits transfer to use values obtained from original studies in similar Millennium Ecosystems Assessment (MEA). 2005. settings. Ecosystems and human well-being: wetlands and water synthesis. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC MRC. 2010. Studies on impacts of basin development on In using the benefits transfer technique, great care wetlands and biodiversity. For BDP. must be given to ensure that: (1) both sites are as identical as possible, ecologically speaking; MRC. 2015. Vulnerability Report Volume 2: Basin-wide (2) there are no major differences in use patterns, Climate Change Impact and Vulnerability Assessment for i.e. one in an urban area, one in a rural area; (3) wetland dependent livelihoods and eco-services. Mekong River Commission, Vientiane; ICEM, Australia. the same service is valued in both situations; and (4) values that are transferred in are calibrated to Raheem, N., Talberth, J., Colt, S., Fleishman, E., Sweeden, account for inflation, changes in exchange rates, P., Boyle, K.J., Rudd, M., Lopez, R.D., O’Higgins, T., Willer, purchasing power parity, and other economic C. and Boumans, R.M. 2006. The Economic Value of Coastal Ecosystems in California. Sacramento: California Ocean and demographic factors that may influence the Protection Council. relevancy of the original valuation estimate to the new analysis area (Johnston and Rosenberger, Shelley, R.R., Tarpy, D.R., Burrack, H.J. 2014. Bee species 2010; Eftec 2009). diversity enhances productivity and stability in a perennial crop. PLoS One 9 (5): e97307 DOI: 10.1371/journal. * Dr Prayooth is the Ecosystem and Wetland Specialist at the MRC’s pone.0097307. Environmental Management Division and Dr So Nam is the MRC’s Chief Environment Management Officer Springate-Baginski, O., Allen, D. and Darwall, W.R.T. (eds.) 2009. An Integrated Wetland Assessment Toolkit: A guide to Further reading: good practice. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN and Cambridge, UK: IUCN Species Programme. Boardman, A.E., Grrenberg, D.H., Vinning, A.R. and Weimer, D.L. 2001. Cost Benefit Analysis: Concepts and Practice. Talberth, J., Gray, E., Yonavjak, L., and Gartner, T. 2013. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Green versus gray: nature’s solutions to infrastructure demands. Solutions Journal 4(1). Available online at De Groot, R.S., Wilson, M.A., and Boumans, R.M.J. 2002. httep:www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/1241. A typical for the classification, description, and valuation of ecosystem functions, goods, and services. Ecological USAID. 2015. Valuing Ecosystem Services in the Lower Economic 41:393-408. Mekong Basin: Country Report for Cambodia. USAID Mekong Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change (USAID Economics for the Environment Consultancy (Eftec). 2009. Mekong ARCC). Available online at http://mekongarcc.net/ Valuing Environmental Impacts: Practical Guidelines for the sites/default/files/cambodia_esv_guidelines-press.pdf. Use of Value Transfer in Policy and Project Appraisal. London: Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. USAID. 2015. Valuing Ecosystem Services in the Lower Mekong Basin: Country Report for Lao PDR. USAID Mekong Freeman, M. 1993. The Measurement of Environmental and Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change (USAID Resource Values. Theory and Methods. Washington DC: Mekong ARCC). Available online at http://mekongarcc.net/ Resources for the Future. sites/default/files/laos_esv_guidelines-press.pdf.
ICEM. 2003. Protected areas as productive assets. In USAID. 2015. Valuing Ecosystem Services in the Lower Lessons Learned from Global Experience. Review of Mekong Basin: Country Report for Thailand. USAID Mekong Protected Areas and Development in the Four Countries Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change (USAID of the Lower Mekong Region. Indooroopilly, Queensland, Mekong ARCC). Available online at http://mekongarcc.net/ Australia: International Centre for Environmental sites/default/files/thailand_esv_guidelines-press.pdf. Management. USAID. 2015. Valuing Ecosystem Services in the Lower Johnston, R.J. and Rosenberger, R.S. 2010. Methods, trends Mekong Basin: Country Report for Vietnam. USAID Mekong and controversies in contemporary benefit transfer. Journal of Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change (USAID Economic Survey 24(3): 479-510. Mekong ARCC). Available online at http://mekongarcc.net/ sites/default/files/vietnam_esv_guidelines-press.pdf.
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 41 New publications (1)
World’s future food security at risk: FAO
Core challenge is to produce more with are capable of sustainably meeting the needs of less, while preserving and enhancing a burgeoning global population. The planet's food livelihoods of small-scale and family systems are capable of producing enough food farmers, and ensuring access to to do so, and in a sustainable way. But unlocking food by most vulnerable that potential — and ensuring that all of humanity benefits — will require "major transformations." Mankind's future ability to feed itself is in jeopardy due to intensifying pressures on natural resources, Without a push to invest in and retool food mounting inequality and the fallout from a changing systems, far too many people will still be hungry climate, according to a new report published by the in 2030 — the year by which the new Sustainable Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Development Goals (SDGs) agenda of the United Nations (FAO) on February 22. Nations has targeted the eradication of chronic food insecurity and malnutrition, the report “Expanding food production and economic growth warns.“Without additional efforts to promote pro- have often come at a heavy cost to the natural poor development, reduce inequalities and protect environment," says The Future of Food and vulnerable people, more than 600 million people Agriculture: Trends and Challenges. "Almost one would still be undernourished in 2030," it says, half of the forests that once covered the Earth are adding that current rate of progress would not even now gone. Groundwater sources are being depleted be enough to eradicate hunger by 2050. rapidly. Biodiversity has been deeply eroded.” Where will food come from? In his introduction to the report, FAO Director- Given the limited scope for expanding agriculture's General José Graziano da Silva cautioned that use of more land and water resources, production “planetary boundaries may well be surpassed, increases needed to meet rising food demand if current trends continue". In a statement will have to come mainly from improvements in accompanying the release of the report, the FAO productivity and resource-use efficiency. said humanity's ranks will likely have grown to However, there are worrying signs that yield nearly 10 billion people by 2050. With moderate growth is levelling off for major crops. economic growth, this population increase will push up global demand for agricultural products To tackle these and the other challenges outlined, by 50 percent over present levels, intensifying the report argues that "business-as-usual" is not pressures on already-strained natural resources. an option. “Major transformations in agricultural systems, rural economies and natural resource At the same time, more people will be eating management will be needed if we are to meet the fewer cereals and larger amounts of meat, fruits, multiple challenges before us and realize the full vegetables and processed food — a result of an potential of food and agriculture to ensure a secure ongoing global dietary transition that will further and healthy future for all people and the entire add to those pressures, driving more deforestation, planet," it says. "High-input, resource-intensive land degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. farming systems, which have caused massive deforestation, water scarcities, soil depletion and Alongside these trends, the planet's changing high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, cannot climate will throw up additional hurdles. "Climate deliver sustainable food and agricultural production.” change will affect every aspect of food production," the report says. These include greater variability More with less of precipitation and increases in the frequency of The core challenge is to produce more with less, droughts and floods. while preserving and enhancing the livelihoods of small-scale and family farmers, and ensuring Greater efforts needed access to food by the most vulnerable. For this, the The core question raised by the FAO publication is FAO report says a twin-track approach is needed whether the world's agriculture and food systems which combines investment in social protection to
42 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 New publications (1)
Major findings related to inland fisheries and aquaculture
♦ In aqucaulture, which provides more than 50 Since the 1980s, virtually all of the increase in percent of all fish consumed, oilseeds are the amount of fish consumed has come from becoming a major component of fish feed, aquaculture, which has outpaced population and demand for oilseeds will expand as growth and become the world’s fastest growing aquaculture production methods intensify. food production industry.
♦ Competition for water and construction of ♦ Small-scale traditional pond aquaculture dams and diversions that interfere with fish in Asia, in which carp species with migration can have a major impact on inland complementary feeding behaviours were fisheries. stocked in fertilized ponds, has given way to fish and crustacean production heavily, if not ♦ There may be some scope to further exploit exclusively, reliant on feeds. Key drivers have water resources, such as rivers and lakes, been rising land prices and the high prices paid to increase food production through the for farmed fish, which makes feeds affordable. development of inland aquaculture. ♦ In the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, ♦ It is expected that aquaculture will continue ‘blue growth’ approaches focus on improving to expand in the decades ahead through productivity and performance through climate- intensification, species diversification, resilient systems. Opportunities for blue growth expansion into new areas and the introduction encompass improved marine and freshwater of innovative, more resource-efficient fisheries systems, aquaculture, aquaponics technologies. Thanks to these improvements, and other forms of combined aquaculture/ output from aquaculture – having become the agriculture production. major source of fish for human consumption in 2014 – is expected to overtake total output ♦ Globally, fish contribute around 18 percent of from capture fisheries by 2021. the total animal protein intake but can reach as high as 60 percent. Per capita consumption ♦ Changes in temperature and rainfall will cause has been increasing and currently exceeds 20 the distribution of inland fish species to shift. kg per year. This trend is expected to continue as incomes rise and consumers become more ♦ Over the past five decades, per capita aware that fish and fishery products can be a consumption of fish has more than doubled. healthy alternative to meat from farm animals.
immediately tackle undernourishment, and pro-poor ways to cope with issues like water scarcity and investments in productive activities — especially climate change. agriculture and in rural economies — to sustainably increase income-earning opportunities of the poor. Along with boosting production and resilience, equally critical will be creating food supply chains The report concludes that the world will need that better connect farmers in low and middle- to shift to more sustainable food systems which income countries to urban markets — along with make more efficient use of land, water and other measures which ensure access for consumers to inputs and sharply reduce their use of fossil fuels, nutritious and safe food at affordable prices, such leading to a drastic cut of agricultural green-house as pricing policies and social protection programs, gas emissions, greater conservation of biodiversity the report says. and a reduction of waste. This will necessitate more investment in agriculture and agrifood Further reading: systems, as well as greater spending on research and development to promote innovation, support FAO. 2017. The future of food and agriculture – Trends and challenges. Rome. sustainable production increases, and find better
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 43 New publications (2)
World Bank sees potential for $83 bln in additional benefits for fisheries
New study sees ‘urgent need for reform’ based on mismatch between increasingly high fishing effort and stagnant or declining fish catches
Fishing less, and better, could generate an additional $83 billion each year for the fisheries sector, creating a much-needed revenue stream in developing countries and improving global food security, according to a new World Bank Group report published on February 17 this year.
The Sunken Billions Revisited, an update on a 2009 study, shows that reducing the global fishing effort would allow fish stocks to recover from overexploitation and lead to increases in the weight, value and price of fish landed, boosting the profitability of the fisheries sector from an estimated $3 billion a year to $86 billion. It would also lead to more fish being caught and landed, because stocks would have recovered to healthier levels, thus helping meet growing global demand for seafood and improving food security in many
countries around the world. Source: World Bank
“This study confirms what we have seen in different country contexts,” said Laura Tuck, World Bank Vice billions estimated for 2004, which were revised President for Sustainable Development. “Moving from an estimated $50 billion in the 2009 study to toward more sustainable fisheries management, $88 billion in The Sunken Billions Revisited, based through approaches that are tailored to local on improvements in the model, better data, and conditions, can yield significant benefits for food adjustment to 2012 dollars. Both figures emphasize security, poverty reduction and long-term growth.” the urgent need for reform and the important economic gains that could be made through a more The bio-economic model used in The Sunken sustainable management of the world’s fisheries. Billions Revisited — developed by Ragnar Arnason, professor in the Faculty of Economics at the Reducing the global fishing effort would allow University of Iceland — examines the mismatch biological processes to reverse the long-term between the increasingly high level of effort put into decline in fish stocks seen in many parts of the fishing and stagnant or even declining fish catches, world. and calculates the incremental benefits that could be derived from global fisheries reform. Further reading:
The analysis reveals foregone economic benefits World Bank. 2017. The Sunken Billions Revisited: Progress of about $83 billion in 2012, compared with what and Challenges in Global Marine Fisheries. Washington, DC: World Bank. Environment and Sustainable Development could be generated under the optimal scenario. This series. doi:10.1596/978-1-4648-0919-4. License: Creative result is not statistically different from the sunken Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0 IGO
44 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017 New publications (2)
5.5 Trends in catches, output and prices 5.0 The World Bank report uses FAO 4.5 estimates to show average output per 4.0 fisher (marine and inland) has declined 3.5 by more than 50 percent since 1970 (see chart top right). This should be viewed in 3.0 the context of technological advances over 2.5 the over the same period. These include
Metric tonnes per fisher year 2.0 large-scale motorization of traditional small-scale fishing boats, increased 1.5 use of active fishing gear, increasingly 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2010 2012 sophisticated fish-finding and navigation equipment, and the growing use of modern Average reported catch per fisher per year (marine and inland) means of communication. The report Sources: World Bank/FAO says the overall negative trend seems overwhelmingly driven by the increasing number of entrants into the sector (due to poor governance), combined with 100 decreasing catches (due to the depressed ) 90 Marine areas 80 state of fishery resources). Aquaculture 70 Inland waters The report says the massive increase 60 in farmed fish supply (middle chart) has 50 "no doubt” dampened the price of wild- 40 caught fish for direct human consumption Metric tonnes (millions 30 (bottom chart). "Since the increase in the 20 farmed fish supply is greater than that of 10 capture fisheries production, the impact on 0 the wild-caught fish price was likely quite 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 substantial,” it says. The expansion of fish Global fish production, 1950–2012 farming has also probably increased the price of wild fish to produce fishmeal and Sources: World Bank/FAO fish oil. "However, since the value of these landings is very small in relation to landings for direct human consumption, the impact 2,500 of this effect on average wild-fish price likely remained relatively small,” the report says. 2,000
Rising global demand for fish products 1,500 has been driven chiefly by population growth, higher incomes and increased 1,000 globalisation. "Fish has become one of US$ per metric tonne the most internationally traded agricultural 500 Aquaculture (nominal) All fish (real) commodities,” the report says, noting that, All fish (nominal) Capture (nominal)
36 percent of global fish production was 0 traded in international markets in 2013–14, 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 fish trade accounted for 9 percent of global agricultural commodity trade in 2012. Estimated global average fish prices Sources: World Bank/FAO
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 45 FAO Fish Price Index Norwegian Seafood Council (2002-2004 = 100)
180
155
130
105
80 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
FAO total fish price index Aquaculture total Capture total
Production, trade, utilisation and consumption 2014 2015 2016 Change FAO Food Outlook, October 2016 Estimate Forecast 2016/2015 Million tonnes % Production 167.2 171.0 174.1 1.8 Capture fisheries 93.4 93.5 92.7 -0.9 Aquaculture 73.8 77.5 81.4 5.0 Trade value (exports USD billion) 148.3 134.1 140.0 4.4 Trade volume (live weight) 60.0 59.9 60.0 0.2 Total utilisation 167.2 171.0 174.1 1.8 Food 146.3 149.4 152.8 2.3 Feed 15.8 16.5 16.2 -1.8 Other uses 5.1 5.1 5.1 0.0 Consumption per person Food fish (kg/yr) 20.1 20.3 20.5 1.1 From capture fisheries (kg/year) 10.0 9.8 9.6 -1.8 From aquaculture (kg/year) 10.1 10.5 10.9 3.9 FAO Fish Price Index (2002-2004 = 100) 2014 2015 2016 Change Jan-Feb Jan-Jun 2016/Jan-Jun 2015 157 142 143 -1.6
46 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 April 2017
Thailand THB per kg Talaad Thai Wholesale Market, Pathum Thani Province September, 2016 March, 2017 Slender rasbora (Rasbora daniconius) 50 - 55 43 - 45 Chinese edible frog (Haplobatrachus rugulosus) (large) 80 - 85 90 - 95 Chinese edible frog (Haplobatrachus rugulosus) (small) 65 - 70 80 - 85 Asian redtail catfish (Hemibagrus wyckioides) 200 - 230 200 - 230 Yellow mystus (Hemibagrus filamentus) 120 - 130 90 - 120 Tire track eel (Mastacembelus favus) 120 - 220 150 - 250 Clown featherback (Chitala ornata) 100 80 - 90 Iridescent mystus (Mystus radiatus) (large) 100 100 Iridescent mystus (Mystus radiatus) (small) 80 65 - 85 Wallago (Wallago attu) (large) 220 - 230 160 - 210 Wallago (Wallago attu) (small) 200 115 - 130 Bronze featherback (Notopterus notopterus) 100 90 - 100 Wild striped snakehead (Channa striata) (large) 135 - 145 120 Wild striped snakehead (Channa striata) (small) 65 - 100 60 - 80 Farmed Indonesian snakehead (Channa micropeltes) (large) 120 - 125 100 Farmed Indonesian snakehead (Channa micropeltes) (small) 65 - 100 40 - 85 Bighead catfish (Clarias macrocephalus) (large) 100 - 110 110 Bighead catfish (Clarias macrocephalus) (small) 80 - 85 100 Farmed North African walking catfish hybrid (large) 48 - 50 38 - 43 Farmed North African walking catfish hybrid ((small) 46 - 48 40 - 42 Siamese red catfish (Phalocronotus bleekeri) (large) 420 - 430 400 - 420 Siamese red catfish (Phalocronotus bleekeri) (small) 330 - 350 200 - 220 Silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus) (large) 50 - 60 50 - 55 Silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus) (small) 85 - 88 38 Red tilapia hybrid (large) 75 - 80 75 Red tilapia hybrid (small) 60 - 65 55 - 65 Nile tilapia (Oreochromus niloticus) (large) 50 - 55 50 - 55 Nile tilapia (Oreochromus niloticus) (small) 30 - 35 28 - 40 Whisker sheatfish (Kryptopterus spp.) (large) 160 - 170 160 - 170 Whisker sheatfish (Kryptopterus spp. (small) 100 - 120 95 - 100 Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) (large) 38 - 45 38 - 40 Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) 50 - 60 50 - 60 Boeseman croaker (Boesemania microlepis) 100 - 120 300 - 340 Horseface loach (Acantopsis choirorhynchos) 200 - 230 150 - 170 Giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy) 80 - 85 80 - 90 Siamese mud carp (Henicorhynchus siamensis) 60 - 65 60 - 65 Snakeskin gourami (Trichopodus pectoralis) 120 - 205 100 - 215 Striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) 30 - 35 25 - 28 Climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) from rice paddy (large) 95 - 110 95 - 110 Climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) from rice paddy (small) 75 - 80 65 Farmed climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) (large) 90 - 100 95 - 100 Farmed climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) (small) 60 - 85 60 - 80 Peacock eel (Macrognathus siamensis) (large) 200 - 220 165 - 170 Peacock eel (Macrognathus siamensis) (small) 140 - 160 150 - 155 Swamp eel (Monopterus albus) (large) 230 - 250 200 - 240 Swamp eel (Monopterus albus) (small) 300 - 310 310 - 320 Pond snail (Filopaludina martsensi) 30 - 35 35 - 40 Viet Nam VND per kg unless otherwise stated Vietnam Assocation of Seafood Exporters and Producers, Dong Thap Province and Danang August, 2016 March, 2017 White pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) (Type 1) 18,800 - 20,800 24,000 - 26,000 White pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) (Type 2) 17,800 - 18,800 21,500 - 24,000 Pangasius fry (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) (1 pc) 0.6 - 1.0 2 - 3 Pangasius fingerlings (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) (3,000 pcs) 20 - 25 30 - 50 Pangasius seed (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) (28 - 32 pcs/kg) 500 - 560 900 - 1,000 Giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) (>100 grams) 300,000 - 310,000 260,000 - 280,000 Giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) (75 - 99 grams) 268,000 - 280,000 220,000 - 240,000 Giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) (50 - 74 grams) 220,000 - 240,000 180,000 - 200,000 Giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) (gravid, <50 pcs/kg) 120,000 - 130,000 90,000 - 100,000 Black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) (8 pcs/kg) - - Black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) (15 pcs/kg) 350,000 300,000 Black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) (25 - 30 pcs/kg) 240,000 180,000 Black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) (40 pcs/kg) 120,000 140,000
April 2017 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 23, No. 1 47 A wallago (Wallago attu) weighing 60 kg displayed by staff at the Hàng Dương Quán Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City in late October, 2016. It was reportedly caught from an unidentified river in Cambodia. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the wallago is “one of the largest, voracious and predatory” of local catfish occurring across its range which extends from the Indian sub-continent to mainland Southeast Asia and the Indonesian island of Java. Despite significant declines in populations, the wallago is not yet considered threatened. But IUCN has classified two other large species proving popular with Vietnamese diners as "critically endangered" which means they are at extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Unlike the wallago, these giant species, which can grow to three meters, are confined to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand (see page 4).
Photo: http://hangduongquan.vn/view-164366/ca-ho-110-kg-ve-hang-duong-quan-lh-0972660808/
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